Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ANKARA1205
2007-05-18 14:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ankara
Cable title:
TURKEY: TGS ON KOSOVO/ESDP DISPUTE: HARD LINE ON
how-tonull Dianne Wampler 05/21/2007 09:10:38 PM From DB/Inbox: Dianne Wampler Cable Text: C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 01205 SIPDIS CX: ACTION: PMA INFO: ECON TSR AMB POL FCS PA CONS DCM DAO RAO DISSEMINATION: PMA /1 CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: DCM:NMCELDOWNEY DRAFTED: DCM:NMCELDOWNEY CLEARED: PMA:CSIEBENTRITT, TSR:RPISTANA VZCZCAYI209 OO RUEHC RUEHZG RUEKJCS RUEKJCS RHMFISS DE RUEHAK #1205 1381405 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 181405Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2168 INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC//J-3/J-5// IMMEDIATE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001205
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/18/2022
TAGS: PREL MARR NATO EU TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: TGS ON KOSOVO/ESDP DISPUTE: HARD LINE ON
PRINCIPLE WITH GLIMMER OF COMPROMISE ON ARRANGEMENTS
REF: A. ANKARA 1192
B. ANKARA 1052
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ANKARA 001205
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/18/2022
TAGS: PREL MARR NATO EU TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: TGS ON KOSOVO/ESDP DISPUTE: HARD LINE ON
PRINCIPLE WITH GLIMMER OF COMPROMISE ON ARRANGEMENTS
REF: A. ANKARA 1192
B. ANKARA 1052
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) This is an action request -- please see para 5.
2. (C) Turkish D/CHOD Saygun called in DCM May 18 to
discuss NATO deliberations on the Transition Directive for
Kosovo. Saygun noted that SACEUR had called Turkish CHOD
Buyukanit May 17 to urge that Turkey set aside its objections
and join consensus. Saygun was blunt and categorical in
describing Turkey's view on this matter. He said that the
issue had gone to President Sezer and that the GOT was
unwavering in its bottom line -- this is not a matter of
arcane procedure but a fundamental question about the role of
Cyprus in the EU and with respect to NATO.
3. (C) We countered that Turkey was pursuing the right idea
in the wrong way. The US and other allies were sympathetic
toward Turkey's concerns about EU decision-making and
specifically the role that Cyprus was playing in shaping EU
decisions involving Turkey. However, threatening to disrupt
transition arrangements for Kosovo at this delicate moment
was a step that sorely disserved all involved. Turkey has
invested a great deal in the success of the Kosovo operation
and the last thing that should happen now is for Turkey to
adopt a position that would undermine that operation.
4. (C) Following an extended exchange, Saygun conceded that
there may be a way to proceed toward a solution on Kosovo.
He noted that a similar dispute had arisen during the
deliberations on Darfur and that a compromise formulation --
what he described as a "generic" reference to the Framework
Agreement -- had been developed. This, he suggested, might
be the basis for a solution on Kosovo. However, he cautioned
that Turkish flexibility was limited and that even if a
compromise were found, Turkey will still insist that the
broader issues related to NATO-EU dialogue and the role of
Cyprus be addressed and resolved in the immediate future.
5. (C) Action Request: Saygun is one of the key GOT
decision-makers on this matter and probably the only one
empowered to work out a solution on the hyper-sensitive
bedrock issue of Cyprus. If the Darfur language does indeed
present an acceptable compromise (something we are not in a
position to judge) we should relay that back to Saygun
directly. Request Department provide guidance as soon as
possible.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/18/2022
TAGS: PREL MARR NATO EU TU
SUBJECT: TURKEY: TGS ON KOSOVO/ESDP DISPUTE: HARD LINE ON
PRINCIPLE WITH GLIMMER OF COMPROMISE ON ARRANGEMENTS
REF: A. ANKARA 1192
B. ANKARA 1052
Classified By: DCM Nancy McEldowney for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (U) This is an action request -- please see para 5.
2. (C) Turkish D/CHOD Saygun called in DCM May 18 to
discuss NATO deliberations on the Transition Directive for
Kosovo. Saygun noted that SACEUR had called Turkish CHOD
Buyukanit May 17 to urge that Turkey set aside its objections
and join consensus. Saygun was blunt and categorical in
describing Turkey's view on this matter. He said that the
issue had gone to President Sezer and that the GOT was
unwavering in its bottom line -- this is not a matter of
arcane procedure but a fundamental question about the role of
Cyprus in the EU and with respect to NATO.
3. (C) We countered that Turkey was pursuing the right idea
in the wrong way. The US and other allies were sympathetic
toward Turkey's concerns about EU decision-making and
specifically the role that Cyprus was playing in shaping EU
decisions involving Turkey. However, threatening to disrupt
transition arrangements for Kosovo at this delicate moment
was a step that sorely disserved all involved. Turkey has
invested a great deal in the success of the Kosovo operation
and the last thing that should happen now is for Turkey to
adopt a position that would undermine that operation.
4. (C) Following an extended exchange, Saygun conceded that
there may be a way to proceed toward a solution on Kosovo.
He noted that a similar dispute had arisen during the
deliberations on Darfur and that a compromise formulation --
what he described as a "generic" reference to the Framework
Agreement -- had been developed. This, he suggested, might
be the basis for a solution on Kosovo. However, he cautioned
that Turkish flexibility was limited and that even if a
compromise were found, Turkey will still insist that the
broader issues related to NATO-EU dialogue and the role of
Cyprus be addressed and resolved in the immediate future.
5. (C) Action Request: Saygun is one of the key GOT
decision-makers on this matter and probably the only one
empowered to work out a solution on the hyper-sensitive
bedrock issue of Cyprus. If the Darfur language does indeed
present an acceptable compromise (something we are not in a
position to judge) we should relay that back to Saygun
directly. Request Department provide guidance as soon as
possible.
Visit Ankara's Classified Web Site at
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/ankara/
WILSON